Fifteen years in prison for flying a flag

15 June 2005

Two Papuan activists, Filep Karma and Yusuk Pakage, have been sentenced to 15 and 10 years in prison respectively for raising the Papuan flag on ’Papuan independence day', December 1st, 2004. For this ’crime' they were charged with ’treason against the state'.

The sentences were much longer than the five years sought by the prosecutor – the court extended the jail terms because the two had been ’hostile' during the trial. Their detention and trial have already sparked protests by hundreds of Papuans which have been ruthlessly put down by police.

Thirty-four other Papuans have been detained under similar circumstances since 1998. Survival fears for the safety of the two men as torture and killings are commonplace in Papuan jails.